Canon EOS 6D In-Depth Review

Less than a week after arch-rival Nikon grabbed headlines with the D600, Canon responded with an announcement of its own price-conscious full frame DSLR, the EOS 6D. And just like that, a new market segment was born: the mid-range full frame DSLR. It was only a decade ago that full frame DSLR performance was limited to those with pockets deep enough to spend $7999 on the 11MP Canon EOS 1Ds. And while the barrier to entry has dropped considerably since then, for many potential buyers, the most-talked about feature of the EOS 6D may well be its price. It debuts at $1400 less than the company's standout EOS 5D Mark III.

As the full frame DSLR market grows ever-more crowded though - Canon, Nikon and Sony each offer at least two full frame models - the appeal of the 6D may well rest on things like handling and feature set. While Canon obviously needs to maintain clear distinctions between the 6D and the pricier 5D Mark III, the challenge is to offer enough incentive for current EOS owners who lack a substantial lens investment to resist the similarly priced and slightly higher-resolution Nikon D600.

And as is Canon's wont, they have opted for the allure of familiarity and consistency. The EOS 6D is perhaps best understood as a full frame version of the popular EOS 60D - indeed it's very similar in both control layout and dimensions. While slimmer front-to-back, and lighter than the Nikon D600, the 6D primarily seeks to distinguish itself on the spec sheet with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, a 'silent' shutter mechanism and, according to Canon, unprecedented low-light focusing sensitivity. Whether this combination will be enough to satisfy enthusiasts who'd appreciate the D600's distinctly higher spec'ed autofocus system, dual card slots and built-in flash remains to be seen.

The EOS 6D is built around a new Canon CMOS sensor, which offers a pixel count of 20.2MP (compared to the Nikon D600 and Sony SLT-A99's 24MP, and the 5D Mark III's 22MP). In concert with the DIGIC 5+ processor it offers a standard ISO range of 100-25600, expandable down to 50 and up to 102,400. The AF system has 11 points, but only the central one is cross-type (sensitive to both vertical and horizontal detail). However, the 6D's trump card is the ability to focus in extremely low light levels; right down to a claimed -3 EV – a full stop dimmer than the 5D Mark III. This figure might not mean much to you, but for reference, -3 EV is roughly equivalent to the light cast by a full moon.

Notable additions include integrated GPS and Wi-Fi - with the latter offering the ability to control the camera remotely via your smartphone. The 6D also benefits from some features we saw in the EOS 5D Mark III, like Canon's silent shutter mode, which offers quieter, more discreet shooting. It also inherits in-camera HDR and Multiple Exposure modes, but disappointingly implements these as JPEG only options, unlike on the 5D Mark III which also records Raw files.

The 6D omits some of the more interesting goodies Canon introduced on the EOS 650D, too. There's no on-chip phase-detection to aid autofocus in live view or movie mode, nor does Canon's superb touchscreen interface make an appearance. As usual for a full frame DSLR - the Sony SLT-A99 being the sole exception - the rear screen itself is fixed, rather than articulated as it is on the EOS 60D. Canon says this is for maximum durability and to keep the camera's size down.

Key specs compared to EOS 5D Mark III and Nikon D600

In the table below we see how some of the EOS 6D's key specs measure up against its more expensive big brother, the 5D Mark III, and its main rival the Nikon D600.

Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Nikon D600

Effective Pixels

• 20.2 MP

• 22.3 MP

• 24.3 MP

ISO Range

• 100-25600 standard
• 50-102800 expanded

• 100-25600 standard
• 50-102800 expanded

• 100-6400 standard
• 50-25600 expanded

No of AF points

• 11

• 61

• 39

Screen

• 3"
• 1,040,000 dots

• 3.2"
• 1,040,000 dots

• 3.2"
• 921,000 dots

Viewfinder

• 97% coverage
• 0.71x magnification

• 100% coverage
• 0.71x magnification

• 100% coverage
• 0.7x magnification

Built-in flash

• No

• No

• Yes

Continuous drive

• 4.5 fps

• 6 fps

• 5.5 fps

Storage

• SD

• Compact flash • SD

• SD
• 2 slots

Weight
(inc batteries)

• 770g (1.7 lb)

• 950g (2.1 lb)

• 850g (1.9 lb)

Dimensions

• 145 x 111 x 71 mm
(5.7 x 4.4 x 2.8")

• 152 x 116 x 76 mm
(6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0")

• 141 x 113 x 82 mm
(5.6 x 4.5 x 3.2")

Wi-Fi + GPS

• Built-in

• Optional

• Optional

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital
Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help
you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based
on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review
before coming to your own conclusions.

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Comments

I have owned a the EOS 6d for around 4 months now and overall I find it to be a great camera. Image quality is top notch even in low light. What canon has done here is allowed people to fully exploit the full range of canon lenses and accessories in a way that was not really achievable with an APSc sized sensor.

12 months after buying a Canon 6D, being disappointed with Canon, I bought a Sony Alpha 7 MII and LOVE IT!

Economy is not achieved by hobbling the video, autofocus, HDR and other features as Canon has done. I feel as if Canon punished me for not buying the more expensive rig!

Having taken my licks, it's time for some fresh air. With Sony, so far, so good. Video is definitely pro quality. It does everything well. Native 16:9 delivers the same size image as a 6D and is nearly a 2X panorama. Image quality is sumptuous at 24 MP and the kit lens, contrary to my expectations, delivers excellent contrast, color, and resolution.

Using a Metabones adapter (fairly expensive) my Canon EF lenses are all image stabilized by the body. I can also use my old FD lenses, including an FD 300mm f/2.8L lens, and Sony is on the right track with clear 2X zoom, which is more than a sales feature--it draws on CPU power to interpolate pixels by unique algorithms.

Is the AF on the A7 faster than the 6D? I have the 7D and am considering the 6D for improved AF speed. I don't need multiple AF points or tracking, just one, quick, central point. I was under the impression the 6D had this...

I use a 50D for my high school sports work but wanted a full frame for portraiture. I purchased the 6d and am happy with it but can't seem to figure out how to get to the low ISO's (100 & 50). I set the ISO range to 50-1600 in the menu but the lowest ISO I can select still only goes to 200. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

As far as sports go I would say the 6D lacks the burst rate needed for most action sports. I have both the 6D and the 50D and shoot mainly high school and college sports with the 50D because of the faster continuous burst speed. However I have used the 6d with success in lower light situations such as night football, indoor basketball (where flash is not permitted). I have had good results with both cameras but prefer the 6D more for portraits and weddings it's a great camera (IMHO)

I found your comments interesting. I am seriously interested in buying the 6D but I am concerned about reports of AF deficiencies. Probably 40% of my shots are of action sports. I currently have a 60D with a maximum burst rate of 5.3 that I rarely use (generally opt for "low speed continuous). Therefore, 4.5 fps sounds reasonable to me. Any comments you may have about any problems caused by the AI system on your 6D in the gym or night football would be very much appreciated. I would also appreciate comments from any other users who have something to offer on this topic.

I can say as an owner of one year who has shot landscapes, portraits, and fashion/style, this camera is not particularly suitable for anything that moves, and the non cross type points are even further problematic. You CAN use it as such, but know that you will miss a LOT of critical focus situations. Regardless of my lens selection- from the 50 1.4 to the 70-200mk2, my hit rate ends up around 60%. The bad part about that is that the subjects are NOT moving.

For sports, your only option is to use center point, as relying on the non cross points would be crazy.

It's a shame too, because the body itself is great and easy to use. And wow, the iso performance is utterly spectacular. I took this body to japan last year, and while it did well overall, the 6d hates my 24-105. I landed many usable photos, but just off in the focus in too many basic situations. I was sad that the IS didnt help more, and I dont exactly have shaky hands.

No exposure comp in Auto ISO irks me. Why? Seriously?The WiFi app blows. It's not worked at all for months since Android Lollipop came out. For months now. It's a piece of junk anyways with very little control over shooting parameters.And there is the one point auto focus system. the central point is great. The rest is complete garbage, as if it wasn't there. One autofucus point is very '80s... Most of the issues with the 6D, of course, could be addressed via a firmware update. A firmware update that will never come. Hey, Canon is not Samsung, it's more like Apple... They don't care what the customer wants / thinks.

For the skeptics and the nitpickers on the 6ds' video capabilities, check that video out. By far one of the best wedding videos i've come across. Most of the couple moments were taken with the Canon 85mm F1.2 ($2k lense) and the chapel moments were taken with the 70d(2:29-2:42). But the dancing with father and bride&groom moments near the stream was filmed with the 6D.

Then this wedding video was entirely filmed with the 6D: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1GG9rUAYvA

I used to own a Canon EOS 50D and I shot great photos with that as well as the first DSLR I had the Canon EOS 10D. It isn't the camera that does the work getting great photos, but rather the photographer him/herself. Now that I own the Canon EOS 6D I am quite impressed by the improvement of the picture quality.

I agree, I started with a 40D, now use two 50D's (mainly for sports) a 6D (mainly for portraiture & Event photography and an SR1 (my walk around camera) The 6D is really a great camera IMHO for the price

I own this camera and am very happy with it. Being a mostly still photographer I also do video but with a video camera. About the only thing I can complain about here is the lack of focal point for the Automatic Focus. Otherwise it is a great camera that takes great photos. The 6D is not a good sports camera. But for portraits and outdoor photography it is a decided winner in my book.

I have a rebel t2i and do LOTS of portrait and outdoor photography. I love my t2i but have been wanting to upgrade as I have had it since it came out. Does anyone have any recommendations or experience with the 6D vs the rebels?

I am very happy with the Canon EOS 6D camera. I purchased the kit with the 24-105 mm f4L IS USM lens. The quality and fit is exemplary of the 6D. It is more than a Pro-sumer camera. I will keep using this camera until I can replace it with the Canon 5D MkIV.

I have a 5Dmk2 and i want to change my camera for a Canon 6d. I want to ask you, if it worth for wedding photography. It is just for photos, movies are occasionally. I know it is better on ISO and focus on the center AF point on low light, and it is what i want.

I am going to tell you that I have shot weddings with a Canon 50D successfully. Is the 6D up to the task. I certainly think so. I recently upgraded to the Canon 6D and I can say it is quite worth the moderate expense to move forward with the Canon 6D. The only limitation would be the 11 point AF system. But hey, you need to ensure that everything you want is in focus in the first place. Good shooting!

jzami69Ive been taking photographs for 45 years and work in cinematography. Personally I think digital has surpassed film for color photography but NOT for black & white photography where film grain adds to the medium. I bought a Canon 6d because Im invested in Canon and have been since 1972 (although I also have Olympus Pen cameras) I didnt want to pay the cost of the 5d MKIII for amateur use but wanted full-frame the 6d was it. The pictures consistantly impress me from this camera far outstrip my 7d in IQ and the only weakness is limited focus points otherwise as a travel & landscape camera it hits the mark perfectly.

Just rented the 5d MkIII, 6d and Sony A7r. The 6d had better low light performance, slightly sharper than the 5d MkIII and better controls and autofocusing than the A7r. I've also owned the Nikon D600. I'm so impressed with the 6D that I'm going to get one this week, it's bang-for-the-buck rating hits the mark for me. Well, at least until the 5d MkIV.... ;)

Okay, someone explain. Don't compare the 6D to its peers, compare it to a camera 2, 5, 10, 50 years ago when people were creating beautiful images. The ratings annoy me because they're based on current technology and not historical technology. They're not even based on picture quality. You're nitpicking, pixel counting. Except for a lab analyst, your reviews are totally useless.

Since they're totally different mediums, wouldn't that be comparable to the apples/oranges thing? I think in some ways it would be, and in others, no. Again, the beauty of a photo is always subjective; I probably lost a contest because of the judges, who knows? Some contests I didn't bother to enter back then, 'cuz you had to use Kodak film, and I saved a lot of money by buying Fujifilm at Sam's Club; A LOT of money! But, I'm getting off the subject here - this is a truly remarkable camera for the price. I've used one for a weekend, and can't wait to own one!

welll.. a camera is a box that captures light. Comparing the cameras is all well and good, but the thing that captures the light is the film.. or sensor.. or glass negative.. or whatever the "film" medium is. The glass-which lets the light in is comparable today to anything you used in the past- superior even.. so the question is.. are the final prints from your digital sensor as good as the final prints from your film days? Answer to that.. well yes i agree that there are BW mediums that result in fantastic images. Whether you can duplicate that printing process -- and what about that- Traditional enlarger and papers? Inkjet? Laser? == even in the days of film: Ansel Adams classic books.. the first serious books I ever read about photography: The Camera - The Negative - The Print. .. if you are only talking about one of these- the camera, you are leaving a whole lot out of the discussion.

I think artists are generally low on money and put themselves at risk with expensive items--so we have sites like this to get some idea of the strengths and weaknesses of various cameras.

As for historical technology, my Kodak #1 view camera, a 5x7 wood camera, really rocks. My enlarger will handle negatives this size (Omega E) and nothing in the world of digital even comes close to this level of detail. This camera was made about the time Ansel Adams was born, but I use Fuji glass and modern film.

Moiré patterns are visual interference patterns that can occur in high resolution digital cameras. Anti-alias filters are designed to reduce or eliminate moiré patterns, but have been left out of some recent cameras in order to attain the highest possible resolution. I'm not sure whether or not the 6D has such a filter. Dpreview explains moiré patterns at this address...http://www.dpreview.com/glossary/digital-imaging/moire

Call me old-fashioned, but I use an SLR to take photographs. The ability to shoot the odd video is merely a useful extra. I can understand the advantage of a headphone socket but it is hardly a deal-breaker for a still photographer.

As someone who has shot numerous videos with DSLR's (5D mk2, Mk3) and a canon c100 i personally dont think the headphone jack is that big of a loss. Most of the time anyone really serious about audio for a production will use external recorders and HD processing for audio as the DSLR compresses audio a bit. There have been a handful of times I use the internal audio for the final edit, even with external wireless or boom mics. I prefer separate source, slate it and combine in post. But that's my personal preference after 12 years in the biz.

So, all that to say for the price different between it and the Mk3, I am getting the 6D for my stills and 2nd video camera on set.

This rating of the 6D is weird to say the least. Almost every reviewer out there rated video capabilities of 6D as definitely better then Nikon d610. How on earth here it gets much lower video rating then d610?? Yet focusing is rated relatively high? What's going on? What am I missing?

I bought this camera 7 months ago and I absolutely love it for what I use it for. I live to shoot Lightning, astrophotography, long exposure etc. and the 6D shines beautifully due to its amazing low noise sensor up to ISO6400. The standard kit lens 24mm-105mm f4 L series is amazing. So sharp and accurate.

Where it lets me down is in the studio. In the field I manual focus everything, in the studio however I prefer to use autofocus at times. The autofocus on this camera sucks. Yes it can focus on the light of a full moon, but for everyday use it’s about 3 years behind the market. My guess is that the 6D came out after the 5dIII and Canon had to make sure that people still bought the 5dIII even though the 6D sensor is better in low light hands down. The 5DIII focus system is great!

With regards to the multiple exposure and HDR modes. Both are features that I think all serious SLR cameras should have moving forward. They are fantastic!

> And as is Canon's wont, they have opted for the allure of familiarity and consistency

Am I living on a different planet? I have a 5d2, T3i/600d, and now a 6d. With just the 5d2, I got familiar enough with the user interface to work in the dark.

But the three cameras turn on/off differently. The LiveView works differently. The Mode PASM works different. Many controls are relocated. Magnify is different. Re-assign buttons is different, etc. etc. etc.

I get it that the UI has to change with fewer thumb wheels on the 600d, and missing the joy-stick on the 6d However, the on/off changes, Mode, etc. seem like poor choices.

I really didn't expect to have a re-learning curve from the 5d2 to the 6d. If I forget a head-lamp, it really slows me down at night.

Seems more like "change for the sake of change" rather than compelling improvement. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

It has an anti-aliasing filter. AFAIK, I'm not aware of any Canon camera that doesn't have the AAF (aka OLPF?)

BTW: the reviews I read on the Nikon cameras is that lack of the AAF is over-rated. The 800e implementation seems like a joke ... pay more to have them put a compensating "something" over the existing AAF.

Seems kind of like a lens having a UV filter built-in, then paying to have an anti-UV filter on top of that ?

Used to own a D600, sold it, prefer the 6D by a margin and love the Wi-Fi implementation.No clue about that DP review of the D600, I find it misleading as the D600 was clearly a camera released too hasty without proper quality control. Using Lightroom 5, does everything I need, never touched the Canon software CD.

I have a very similar experience. Love my 6D and the Canon L lenses. Really enjoy how the Canon cameras capture the colors of nature. I was always fiddling with the greens on my Nikon images from both the D600 and D90 it replaced.

You can fix the green tint with one click in the white balance menu...set one click towards magenta, and the green goes away. Forever. That's ridiculous to switch brands for that. Better yet, shoot RAW, and who cares what the white balance looks like? Fix it in post.

Finally ready to make the jump to full frame after 8 years with Olympus DSLR's. After considerable research and gnashing of teeth I pulled the trigger on the 6D. I really wanted to go with the Nikon D 600 based on DP Review and various other reviews, based on features, output quality and MP, but the ongoing concerns over the sensor dust and oil spots and Nikons recalcitrant PR approach to these issues pushed me to the 6D. I just could not imagine investing $3k in full kit only to experience ongoing sensor issues. I am excited to experience the full frame format and take my amatuer photography to the next level. How is Canon's photo management & editing software? Should I look into purchasing another package, and what does the forum recommend?

Fully agree with your comments! I was about to go to Nikon D600 but was so much disappointed with their no-customer (snob) oriented approach that eventually decided for the 6D. I couldn't be more satisfied for such a decision. I liked Nikon so much in the past (before digital era) they made so beautiful film cameras, but this is the past...the present looks different.As for the software: I always shoot RAW and develop with Capture One and that's excellent for other cameras, particularly for Fuji X raw files, but for 6D RAW files I found out that Canon software (Digital Photo Professional) gives better results. The only drawback of DPP is that it is very slow.

After a long deliberation, I decided to upgrade from my 5Dii to the 6D. Some may call it a sidegrade or even a downgrade, but for me, image quality is everything, and the ablity to focus and shoot in low light is paramount. I'm very happy with my decision, and so far I don't miss any of the 5D line features. I'm getting shots I wouldn't have gotten with the 5Dii (maybe not even with the mark iii), and most importantly I can afford to upgrade every one or two years with the current price point of the 6D rather than three or four with the 5D. I'd rather have more frequent updates of sensor technology instead of being left with a better built, feature packed but obsolete camera for the same money.

@ Alwynj:The difference is more obvious when you look at the brown fibers right on top of the color chart with the lady's face. Also the black and white squares in the corners are a lot sharper with the Canon, but perhaps the used Canon lens performs better resolving detail in the corners than the Nikkor used with the D600 what might explain the difference in detail.

I don't understand DP Review. Compare the Canon 6d and Nikon D600 and they'll have you believe that the D600 edges ahead in the high ISO dept, but to my eyes the 6d wins when I use the comparative tool. Images appear slightly cleaner and sharper (in RAW). Move the box to the face of the lady and see for yourself

Great camera the 6D, so far I get great pics at high iso, so for a live show its a must, sure the Nikon as great qualities, but at high iso....Canon wins hands down, by 2 stops......If you are a Canon user stick to Canon, if you are a Nikon user stick to Nikon, they are both great cameras, depending on what you intend to shoot

"The EOS 6D is Canon's attempt to entice DSLR owners who are looking for the benefits of full frame shooting - including shallower depth of field and wider-angle lens coverage, but can't afford the EOS 5D Mark III."

". . . Canon's compromises have turned what could have a been a truly great camera into merely a very good one. "

This is interesting. Do we want 6D to be like the 5D Mark III? Then why not buy the $3,500.00 camera.

Assuming we are looking into the camera's OVF horizontally, the vertical coverage of the 6D's sensor array is about 1/3 the height of the OVF, spreading from the centre AF point. The diamond shaped array is slightly wider, almost covering 2/3 the width of the EVF, but just almost. Shooting vertical portraits with extreme DOFs (like using the 50mm F1.2 L wide open) can be tricky, because the furthest points of the diamond AF array misses the subject's eyes (under normal compositions) a little too much. But to be fair, the 5D Mark III's high density AF array is not that much spread out either, especially when compared to Canon's APS-C EOS bodies.